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P. MCCARTHY. VE-HiCLE THIEF INDICATING SIGN.

APPLICATION man APR. 1r. 1911.

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Q/l I 59 l P. MCCARTHY.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. IBlI. 1 3 l 5, 374, Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

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ILATBICKl MCCARTHY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-THIEF-INDICATING SIG-N.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1

Patented Sept. 9, 191.9.

Application filed April 17, 1917. Serial No. 162,619.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, PATRICK MCC'ARTHY,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ot' N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Thief- Indicating Signs, of which the following isv mally covered and concealed from View; but

on the unauthorized movement o't'the vehicle, will be instantaneously displayed to view from both front and rear; which signal plate is easily and quickly rendered incapable ot' being brought to view Aby the owner or authorized chaulifeur by the use of a suitable key, which key when reversely operated .will so adjust the plate as to be inunediately thrown into position by the starting),l ot' the motor or car; and while as shown and described helreiii the saine. is actuatcd by an electric-current, derived troni -the generator through the ignition circuit,

which ignition circuit cannot be closed .eX-

' cept by an authorized person, iii some cases and where the motors or vehicles are not provided with electricity, other suitable mechanism for displaying such a visual-sig nal other than the electric one described above` actuated by any suitable power, may

- be used with the same effect.'

My said invention is fully shown, described, and claimed in the following specification, ot' which the accompanying drawings torni a part, wherein similar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the same and inwhich f Figure 1 is a front face View oi the signaling mechanism of my `improved form, attached to a wind-shield. the rear of the casing being partially broken away to more clearly show the mechanism. the concealed position of the signal `plate being shown in full lilies, and extended signaling position being shown in dotted lines, except the wording which is in full lines.

Fig. 2 is a View in detail of the switch mechanism, lock and rack forming a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showing the saine in the non-actuating position when being operated by those authorized.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view taken in section on theline 3 3 ot' Fig. l, looking downward in the direction of the arrows ot' the signal sign-box or housing, and the wind-shield being shown in section.

Fig. i is a view of such visual signal mechanism, etc., taken in horizontal section (looking upward in the direction of the arrows) =1l of Fig. 1.

F ig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the elec- 'brake lever and electric connections, the

throwing of which oii and into the nonbraking position by unauthorized persons will bring to view the thief-trapping signal.

Referring to the diawings` the reference letter Adesignates the vehicle dash,r B the wind-shield plate and C the sign casing oi' housing inelosing the visual signal-plate D, and its actuating mechanism; which signah plate is usually and preferably ot some opaque substance having` on the outer end as indicated in Fig. 1, on either side a word such as Stolein or other like words` signs or symbols, indicating unauthorized use ot the vehicle.

The outer i fall 10 ot' the casing' or housing C is secured yto the rectangular box-portion `ot same extending from the back wall 10.

end pieces 11, and top and bottom pieces 11., by means of suitable securing screws 1Q, screwing into securing lugs 13, formed integi'al with or secured to the end walls 1l., and top and bottoni walls 11', at the cor ners, this portion of the housing being usuthe housing and within the saine is the normally concealed visual-alarm sign-plate D which reriprocates in and out of the slot 16 in the right hand end wall 11', and has its rear end always located in the narrow rear plate-chamber 4, and is provided at the; outer end Vwith an enlarged outwardly flared head 16', so that when in the closed position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 when the sign is within the casing and concealed from view, such Hare-head 16, will close the slot 16, so as to prevent entrance of dirt or moisture tothe interior ot' the housing. The signplate D is horizontally supported in such slot 143 at the height shownl at 17 (Fig. 1) by reason of resting and sliding uponthe bottom ot' the slot 16 in the end wall 11, and the end walls 18 and 18, of the lock-housing 19', and the front plate 20 of such lockhousing 19 is secured in place to the wall 10 of the main-housing C, in any desired Inanner, usually by means of screws 21.

lVithin the lock-housing and somewhat loosely mounted therein so as to freely reciprocate up and down therein, is a lock rackbar having on the upper edge a plurality of rack-teeth 23 of any desired number, usually eight as shown; which rack-bar is provided at the left-hand or rear end, with a downwardly depending slide-lug or 1in 24., and at the right-hand end `with asimilar lug or n 24', ,from the lower end of vwhich extends outward through the end wall of the lock-housing van electric contact-n'iember 25 passing out 'through the slot 26, such toothed ratchet-bar being, (when the Vehicle is to be operated by the owner)drawn down into the position shown in Fig. 2,- s0I that the ratchet teeth are below the top of'the ii-housing so as to be out of contact with the pawl 27, vibratorily mounted on the pivot. stud-screw 28, secured in the .signal-plate D, and having the upper stoplug or 4in 29 contacting with the stop-pin 29 mounted in the signal-plate D, against which stop-pin the stop-lug 29 of such paw] is kept normally forced by a suitable spring 30, usually ot' the straight-pressure form indicated, secured to the screw or stud pin 3W, mounted-like the pin 29 in the signplate D.

The lock tor setting the signal to trap a thief or 'to render the same inoperative when the vehicle vis to be used by any authorized persons, is of any.suitable construction; but is usually for greater security, what 1s known as a Yale lock of the paracentric type, having the cylindrical tumbler-casing 9 formed integral with or secured to the lock-niechmisin for setting the device to trap 'a thief. or to renderI the same inoperative when the vehicle is to be operated by an authorized person, being put into or out of automatically operated signaling or nonsignaling position, by a suitable key by` authorized persons; and such lock mecha-` nism being well known in the art, I have not deemed it essential to show the saine herein, in detail, save to show that the tumbler F of the lock is provided with a lift-lug or cam-piece H, which when in the top position shown in Fig. 1, will force the toothed rack-l bar 22, against the tension of the springs 31' and 31, up into the locking position and when thrown to an angle of.90 degrees into the horizontal (Fig. 2) will allow thesprings 31 and 31, to draw such rack-bar down Within the lock-housing into the nonoperative position shown in dotted lines in4 '39, secured to the signal-alarm-plate D, is

a vibrating lock-paw] 40, having the pawl hook 40', having its outer front face slanted,

or if straight, being of such length and being so pivoted,'and it being by gravit)v held in such position, that when the alarmplate D after being thrown into the indicated position, is pushed back into the housing, such pawl will ride up over the right hand slanted upper end 41, of the solenoid lock-bar 42, normally thrown upward into the locking position shown in Fig. 1 (against the tension of a coil-spring 43), located between the spring-flange or collar 44, and upper securing-flange 48, of the electric solenoid-coil 49, energized by the conductorwires 50; and the like wire 5l connected with the contact-plate 52, also rigidl)v Secured to the inner wall ofthe housing or casing.- And located below the saine and secured in like manner is a like plate 52'; carried by a like insulating-block 53', and. connected with the conducting-wire 54; and usually and preferably t solenoid-coil 49 is secured in proper place below the pawl 40, upon an insulating lock 55, secured to the wall 10 of the main housing, as shown in Fig. 3.

Supported in the lock-housing 19, upon a suitable insulating-block is an electriccontact-spring member 56 in constant sliding contact with the contact-bar 25, connected with the lead-wire 61 (Figs. 1 and 5) connected with the battery or electricsupply K, through the plug cut-out P by way of the wire 62, a wire 63 connecting with the ground-wire G0.

The part-s being in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the visual alarm signalplateJ D, as shown in full lines, drawn fully back within the casing or. housing, out. ot' vlew, and held 1n such positlon against thc .tension of the throw-spring 38, by the vition of Fig. 5, that the starter 'mam-frame of @einem brating paal 40, in Contact with the solenoid-bar lill when the parts are in such position with the toothed ratchet-plate in the extreme upward position, the pawl 2T will haveA its point 27v below the top of the ratchet-teeth, as shown in F ig. l; and the electric contact switch-bar 25 will be in contact with the upper contact-plate 52, connecting with the solenoid-coil 49 by the wire 5l@ while the other end wire 50 of the coil is connected with -the comme ground wire, usually some portion of the the vehicle as indicated 1n the diagam Fig. 5 at G.

The contact-plate 52 is connected with the lead-wire 54', having thel make and break startingT switch 5f, when in the closed position, closing the circuit through the motor starter S by way of the wires 56 and 57, ground-wire (50, wire G3, battery K and wires 62 and 61, by way o't' the plug cutout l); and it Will be seen upon examina- S can only be actuated to start the motor when Q5 is closed to 52', and the plug is inserted in the plug eut-out P, and the starter-switch 55 and 55 also closed, which will only be when the lockig mechanism is, (by an authorized person using a suitable key) thrown down into the position shown in Fig. 2, with Q5 in Contact with the contact-plate 51, and the plug is inserted in P. The ignition circuit of the driving motor M is `from the battery K, by way of (l2, P, 6l., 25, 52', 5l. switch (il. wil-e613, ignition plug of M, and wiresGG, ($0 and (S3 back to K.

The hereinbefore described mechanism is soconstructed and larranged that while it protects the vehicle from theft, when put into movement under its own power by an unauthorized 'person7 it will not prevent its being stolen and carried away by towing, etc., and to prevent thefts of this character` the vehicle is provided with a subsidiarysignal actuating n'iechanism /whieh is brought into operation upon the release of t-he baking mechanism usually what known as an emergency-brake, the actuating` lever and locking'mechanism of which is shown 'in detail in Fig. (3. wherein designates the rack-sector, vibratorily supporting the elnergency-brake hand-lever S0, upon the pivot pin or bolt 81; and being locked in the braking or non-braking position by the locking dog-rod 82 having the releasing handle S3, such .lever SO is connected belowvr the pivot bolt 8l, with the brake actuatingl lever S4, by the short-lever or extension rlhe brake when set to the braking position so that the vehicle cannot be moved either by its own power, or by towing, having` the lever 8O in the position shown in dotted lines at 80 (Fig. G); and

when in the brake-releasingl position` being as shown in full lines therein. Mounted upon a suitable insulating base-block SG, sc- `cured to the tootl'ied locking-sector ll, is a spring contact member ST, extending torward over the'scctor, 'and secured to the lever t5() in like manner upon a like insulating block S6', is a coacting spring contactme-mber SS, which when the lever is in the brake releasing position shown in Fig. (l, ,t'ull lines` contacts with the contact member Si' to close the electric circuit throwing thc thief signal to view.

yThe contact irieinber 8T being connected with the wire (32, by a wire S9 and the contact-SS, being counectedavith the switch contact-s :25 and connected through the theft releasing,r solenoid-coil 49. wires 50, (3() and (33, with the other pole of the battery K, as clearly indicated in diagram in Fig. 5; the wire. 9() connecting the'contact SS with the solenoid through 25, and 51 preferably passing down to the pivot point Si. ot' the brake-lever S0, so that there will be no distortion of the wire upon the movement ot such lever. And it will be seen that upon the throwing ot' the brake by unauthorized persons, out. of the braking position, when the lever S() is in the releasing position shown in full lines in Fig; (3. the contact ot' SS with Si' will close the circuit through the solenoid lll. even though the plug l has not been inserted so as toclose the ignition circuit: and that the sign will be instantlyy released, to indicate that such machine is in the hands of unautlmrized persons` even though being towed and not under its own power.

The lighting` or lamp circuit (Fig. 5l comprises the wires (32, (S2/,switch (3T. resistance (3S. and wires (i9. 70, T1, '[2 73.174, (i7. T5. (l. (3() and G3, in which are included the head-lights L L, tail-light T, and sidelight ll.

-t will at once be seen from the drawing and description. that so long as the ratchetH lock is in the upper and thief-trapping 'position shown in Fig. 1, with the circuit sthrough 5l broken` that even by insertion or" a contact-plug in l that the starter S, cannot be energized and operated; and that Yupon the insertion ot' such plug in l, the solenoid-coil -lll being energized and the pawl t() released, the 'alarm-signal-plate D, will be thrown out into view by the throwspring 3S, (such throw beinglimiteol by the stop-pin or screw 70. extending into'the stop-slot of, such plate D) and will be locked against unauthorized replacement in its housing, by contact of the pawl 28 with the teeth Z3 of the raek-bar -llt'is evident that many various changes and medications in the construction and arrangement ot' the several parts of my thiefcatching apparatus herein shown, may be niade without departing troni the scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself strictly to the exact forms shown.

I claim f t l. Arthief-indicating device comprising, a normftly concealed visual signal for vehicles, said signal having Words or symbols that indicate such vehicle is being stolen;

locking mechanism for retaining the signa in non-visible position when the vehicle is being driven by an authorized person, and setting means for automatically releasing the visual indicating means, and bringing the same to view upon attempt being made by an unauthorized person to, operate the vehicle, and for locking such signaly against re-concealment by an unauthorized person.

2. A thief-indicating device comprising' a housing, a ythief-indicating sign adapted to be moved to position for concealment in said housing and to be moved to lposition for display, means for moving said sign from position for concealment to position for display, locking means on said sign, electric means for engaging said locking means on said sign and releasable therefrom, for retaining the sign in position for concealment, paivl and rack means for retaining the sign. in position for display, locking means engageable with said rack means for locking the sign in position for display, and means for operating said electric retaining means to release the locking means on said sign to allow the operation of the means for moving the sign from position for concealment to position for display.

A thief-indicating device for a motor vehicle having means for controlling the driving wheel-revolution of such vehicle,

said device comprising a housing attachable to the motor vehicle, a thief-indicating sign adapted to be movedto position for concealment in said housing and to be moved to position for display. means for movingv said sign from position for concealment to position for display, locking means on said sign, an electric circuit, electric means for engaging said locking means on said sign and releasable therefrom, and comprised in vsaid electricy circuit, for retaining the sign in position yfor concealment, pawl and rack means for retaining the sign/in position for' display, locking means cngageable with said rack means, and means comprised in said electric circuit for lengaging the beforementioned means 'for controlling thc motor vehicle driving-wheel revolution, whereby movement of said means for controlling will.

operate said electric retaining means to release the locking means on ysaid sign to allow the operation ot the means for moving the sign from position for concealment to position for display.

4. A. thief-indicating device comprising a housing, a thief-indicating sign adapted to be moved to position for concealment. in said housing and to be moved to position for display, means for moving said sign from position tor concealment to position `for display, locking means on said sign, electric means on said housing for engaging said locking means onsaid sign and i'eleasable there-trom, for retaining the sign in position for concealment, pawl and rack means for locking y the sign in position for display, and means for operating said electric retaining meansto release the locking means on said sign to' operate the means for moving the sign from position for concealment to position for display.

5. A thief-indicating device comprising a:

housing, a th,iet-indicating sign adapted to be moved to position for concealment in said housing and to be moved to position for disf play, a spring for moving said sign from position for concealment to position for display, a pawl on said sign, electric means on said housing for engagingsaid pa'vvl. and

releasable therefrom, to retain the sign in,

position for concealment, a paul and rack carried by said sign for retaining the sign in position for display, locking means engageable with said rack for locking the sign in position for display, and means for operating said electric retaining means to release the pawl on said sign to alloiv said spring to move the sign from position for concealment to position for display.

G. A thief-indicating device comprising a housing attachable to a vehicle, a thief-indicating sign adapted to be moved to position for concealment in said housing and to be moved to position for display, a spring for comprised in said electric circuit for operating said solenoid to releasel the paivl on said sign to allow said spring to move the sign from position for concealment to position for display.

'7. A thief-indicating device for a motor vehicle having a brake-lever, said device comprising a housing attachable to themotor vehicle, a thief-indicating sign adapted to be moved to position for concealment in said housing and to be moved to position` for display, a spring for moving said sign from position for concealment to posit-ion for display, a pawl on said sign, an electric circuit, a solenoid o'n said housing and comprised in said electric circuit for engaging said pavvl and releasable therefrom, to retain the sign position for display, n lock engzigeable with said rack for locking the sign 1n posmon for display,1neans for unlocking said lock7 and means engaging the brake-lever of the vehicle and comprlsed 1n said elec-tue C11-cult,

whereby moven'lent of the brake-lever will operate said solenoid to release the pmvl on said sign to allow he operation of said lo spring, to move' the sign from position for concealment to position-foi* display.

PATRCK MoC-ARTHY.

' Witnesses: v

WILLIAM A. DUNNIN,

H. D. PENNEY. 

